Furnace-grate for portable engines



2 SheetsSheet 1;

(No Model.)

S. E. BURKE.v FURNACE GRATE FOR PORTABLE ENGINES.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

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S. E. BURKE.

FURNACE GRATE FOR PORTABLE ENGINES;

- No. 400,824. Patented Apr. 2; 1889.

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STEPHEN E. BURKE, OF EDON, OHIO.

FURNACE-GRATE FOR PORTABLE ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,824, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed October 15, 1887. Serial No. 252,469. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN E. BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eden, in the county of \Villiams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace-Grates for Portable Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to furnace-grates, and more particularly to grates for portable engines. In engines of this sort the sides of the fire-boxes are somewhat rounding, and as a consequence it is difficult to get a square frame for the grate-bars to fit nicely and snugly thereto. In engines of this kind it also frequently happens that ashes and coals lodge at the end of the fire-box next to the flu es and flue-sheets, and so choke up the box and fire.

To overcome and remove the objections mentioned, and for the accomplishment of such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a fire-box with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2, a plan showing the gratebars arranged in a fire-box; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the fire box, showing arrangement of frame therein; Fig. 4, a perspective of portion of the frame, on an enlarged scale, showing parts detached; Fig. 5, a plan of one form of grate-bar; Fig. 6, a 1ongitudinal section through one of the bars shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the side bars of the grate-frame, the ends of which on their outer faces are rounding or curved inwardly toward the base, so as to conform to the concavity in the sides of the fire-box N. The side bars may be of the same depth throughout their length, but for economy and lightness are preferably formed in the shape of cars at the ends, as shown, and in the ends or cars are formed openings a for the ends of the oscillating shafts which operate the grate bars. The ends of the side bars are formed with the recesses b and c to receive the horizontal and vertical flanges, respectively, of the end cross-bars, 13, of the frame, and the outer faces of the ends may be formed with the recess (Z to receive the upright posts or standards 0, which may serve to support the frame. The curved outer faces of the ends of the side bars are also formed with a flange or lug, D, which is comparatively thin or light in cross-section, and has normally a vertical or perpendicular edge or face, or nearly such a face, so that the frame can be used with a fire-box having flat or straight sides, and which, when necessary, can be easily or readily cut so as to give it a curved face or edge like the other portion of the bar, and thus fit it to the fire-box having curved or rounding sides at the ends. This flange or lug can be cut, of course, to suit the concavity of the sides of the box.

On the inner faces of the side bars, adjacent to their ends, are formed studs or bosses E, in which are formed angular-shaped openings or cavities 6. These cavities are to receive the angular ends of the connecting or tie rods F, which can be drawn up or spread out by the nuts G, so as to adjust the side bars of the frame. By screwing the nuts so as to spread out the side bars the same are pressed tightly against the sides of the fire-box, and thus held securely in place. The rod F, next to the front of the firebox, may be made crowning, so as not to interfere with the working of the pitman or rod H, which is connected at one end to the oscillating shaft J in any suitable way, and by means of which the grate-bars K are reciprocated and oscillated.

The bars of the grate are composed of the longitudinal bars L and intermediate crossbars, M, the latter extending above the plane of the longitudinal bars and preferably beyond the sides thereof. The cross-bars are preferably arranged as shown in Fig. 5 that is, so as to extend obliquely or in two oblique lines across the space between the longitudinal bars, and at the top are near enough together to permit ashes and other refuse to pass through and yet preventv the fine fuel from falling.

The cross-bars are made to taper from. the

top downwardlythat is, are made thicker at the top than at the bottom-so that the top will the better resist the heat and last longer, and so that more air-space will be formed between the bars below their top surface without necessitating the bars lying farther apart at the top than is advantageous or desirable. 13y forming the longitudinal bars tapering in the same way their strength and durability will be increased without materially increasing their weight or cost.

The lower faces of the longitudinal bars are formed with notches 71, as described in my patent of April 12, 1887, No. 360,849, and at one or both ends are formed with a recess or cut-away portion, f, for the bumper g to strike against. Fl'OllI that point the bottom face is inclined, as shown, to give increased strength.

It will be understood that the cross-bars M, where they are below the plane of the outside face of the longitudinal bars, form numerous openings for the passage of air, and in connection with the longitudinal bars constitute a hollow grate-bar, and that all that portion of the cross-bars above the plane of the longitudinal bars constitutes ledges guarding said open in and, besides holding the pulverulent fuel away from contact with the sides of the bar, also forms spaces for the air to circulate under the fuel between it and the face of the longitudinal bars. By forming the double oblique arrangement of bars, as shown in Fig. 5, the air is spread more evenly along the surface of the fuel and better combustion produced.

At the end of the grate-bar which fits next to the line or flue-sheet end Q, and under the cross-planes (l, 1 form a series of cleats or bereled strips, P, which extend across the grate-bar and form a rake for drawing the ashes and pieces of coal away from the fluesheets and from under the cross-plate O, and pulling them onto the grated portion of the bar, so that the ashes will fall between the bars, while the coals will be burned. l-lysueh construction the fire is kept clear, so as to burn free, and fuel, instead of being wasted, is consumed and eeonomized. These rakes also keep the ashes and einders from banking up against and closing the fines, which is of such common occurrence and a serious objection under constructions heretofore used.

It will also be observed that the flue end of the grate-bars where the rake is formed is closed. This breaks the draft of air, so that it will not strike against the fines and cool them off, as it is caused to pass upward at a point removed from the litres and where it is heated by the flame before it passes to the lines.

Another advantage of having the ends of the grate-bars next to the fine-sheet closed is that such feature, combined with the rake, more effectually prevents the banking up of the ashes and cinders, inasmuch as the aircurrent is cut off to such an extent as to prevent'the ashes being blown up against the sheet, and what ashes may accumulate there are drawn away by the rake.

I wish it umlerstood, however, that I do not confine myself to the details of construction of the rake-bars, although such construction is claimed.

llaving described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is l. The grate-bar frame having bars formed with bosses on their inner faces, in which are formed angular cavities, in con'ibination with spreading rods having angular ends fitting in said cavities, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the fire-box having a fine-sheet at one end thereof, of the grate-bars provided at the end of the box next to the flue-sheet with a rake for drawing the ashes away from the flue-sheet, and thus preventing the banking up of ashes and einders against the flue-sheet, substantially as described.

In an engine f urnace-grate, the grate-bar composed of longitudinal bars connected together, and having openings between them for the passage of air, except at the flue end, where the space between the longitudinal bars is closed to break the passage of air, and provided with a rake to draw ashes away from the flue-sheet, substantially as described.

4.. A furnace-grate composed of a series of grate-bars constructed of longitudinal bars connected together, and having openings between them for the passage of air, except at the flue end, where the space between said longitudinal bars is closed to break the passage of air, and provided with rake-teeth, substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

In testi mony whereof I at'fix my sign ature in presence of two witnesses.

S' EPlll lN E. BURKE.

Vitnesses:

UnAi-mus A. liouasox, R. L. STARR. 

